Han-Lin Li
PhD Student, Design School
Hydrogen is already proven to give clean energy, allowing vehicles to travel long distances without the need to regularly recharge; the only waste product is pure water.
But hydrogen is sensitive to flame – basically it explodes quite easily. It must be handled professionally. In reality todays hydrogen vehicles are safe; we do though need to build public confidence and prepare drivers to understand their vehicles and carry ou t basic repairs.
I hope the impact of my research will be that every driver has the desired knowledge, confidence and skills to handle a hydrogen fuelled vehicle. I want to support people to learn about their car while they are driving it without putting them under more pressure.
Post 16 Education: A Levels Maths, ICT, Physics & Economics (dropped Economics for A2)
Higher Education: BEng Mechanical Engineering and MSc Advanced Manufacturing and Management; Now studying for a PhD combining elements of Ergonomic and Human factors and Transportation Safety
Design is about finding a solution to change the world – that people will use; a solution that is acceptable to the general public and the user.
Han’s experience as a student
My undergraduate degree focussed on front line technology so I learnt all the skills to create a scientific solution but then I wanted to focus on the person and how they interact with the technology.
I saw an advert for a postgraduate programme integrating human factors into technology and realised that this was important for me. I also felt that it would give me more career potential, as it’s so important to industry.
I didn't know it would be this helpful but did feel that it would give me more options.
Han’s Career
I like to solve problems, that's why I chose to study engineering to begin with. During my undergraduate studies I realised that I like to find the most front line problem and solve it by myself. So, I wanted to do a PhD where you find a problem and solve it your way.
Why did I choose to research vehicle design? Because I realise that in the end it's about the human; if the design doesn't satisfy the user then they won’t use it. The solution has to be a real world solution – one that appeals to people other wise it will only ever appear on paper. My aim is to design a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle that people will confidently drive.
I use a wide variety of information to help combining the knowledge together with the aid of computer software I can accurately predict the explosion size in an accident scenario.
From my research experience there is no single solution – its about a combination of knowledge and need a bit of everything.
Ultimately I want to make sure the solution I provide satisfies the consumer – so they will buy it, so they will use it, so it can help to change the world.
Han's advice
Choose science subjects then depending on your open day visits you can choose your final subject to give you both BA / BSc courses.
When I chose my A Levels I didn't know what I wanted to do I was thinking economics, finance so I kept that open but to be honest I didn't do that well in economics and that helped me realise it wasn't for me. It might have helped me if I’d studied Chemistry but if you know exactly what you need then you can learn that part specifically.
º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ offers undergraduate degrees in:
Design, Industrial Design, Product Design and Technology, Product Design Engineering, Graphic Design
Please note: Degrees and their titles change over time. Some of these graduates may have studied degrees that have evolved and changed in response to changes in demand from employers.